J. H. Simpson to Philip Kearny, March 16, 1862

> Camp Seminary, Vä., March 16, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the movements of the. Fourth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers since the 7th instant: EE po . .On that day it received orders to march with the other regiments of the brigade to Burke’s Station, on the Alexandria and Orange Railroad, quence of its being. the rear guard of the whole brigade, including the

wagons, and the very bad state of the eross road from Annandale, it did not reach its destination till 4 o’elock the next morning, everything, however, having been brought up, in good order. “The regiment was immediately put in position by your orders as a movable force to attack — the enemy at any point he might present himself, the three other regiments occupying eligible positions on the approaches to the Station from the south, west, and north. ü : In the afternoon, by your direction, I accompanied you in a reconnaissance of the country about the place for several miles, the object being – to become thoroughly acquainted with the roads, so as to be ready to

z meet the enemy at any point, and in parting with me you gave me my

orders for the night. –

APT 3 “n The next morning about sunrise eight contraband slaves came in from Manassas, and reported to you that the rebels were sending away their – guns and other property, and were about leaving their fortifications. You thought their representations such as to cause a more thorough questioning, and directed me to conduct it. I did so, putting down the result in a letter to you, which you dispatched immediately to General Franklin. Directly after this you ordered the brigade to move forward towards Sangster’s Station, 7 miles up the railroad, and within 3 miles – of Bull Run. The Third New Jersey was directed to take the advance along the railroad, the Second New Jersey en echelon at proper distance to support the Third, the Fourth New Jersey similarly disposed to support the Second, two companies of the First New Jersey to flank the railroad by the Braddock road to the north, and the remaining companies of the First to hold Burke’s Station. In this way the advance was cautiously made as far as Fairfax Station, a distanee of 4 miles.

Reaching this place, the brigade, by your direction, was again advanced farther forward cautiously, the different regiments occupied – the same relative position, but the Third moving more directly on Sangster’s Station; the Second taking position on the right of the railroad about a mile beyond Fairfax Station, at the lead-colored house, on an eminence; the Fourth at the little chureh at Fairfax Station to guard the road leading to Fairfax; the First Regiment remaining as before at Burke’s Station and the Braddock Corners. At this time the rebel cavalry could be very plainly seen with my glass about 14 miles off to the northwest, posted behind a fence in front of a woods.

Up to this period I had by your direction accompanied you in the field. Leaving me to go forward to join the Third in the advance, you directed me to take command of the Second and Fourth and give orders according to the exigencies as they might occur. Soon after I heard the advance engaged with the enemy, and receiving an order from you through Assistant Adjutant-General Wilson to push forward the Second to the burned railroad bridge to sustain the Third, the Fourth to take the place of the Second, and the First that of the Fourth, the two companies of the First still remaining at the Braddock Corners. I made the changes accordingly, and then rode forward to report to you at Sangster’s Station. Here I found you writing a dispatch to General Franklin, informing him of the brilliant charge whieh had just been made by a small detachment of Captain Stearns? company of Lincoln Cavalry, which formed your escort, against a large body of the rebels, said to be .

among them a Lieutenant Stewart, late from West Point. You immediately ordered me to join my regiment, and with it two companies of the – First New Jersey under Major Hatfield, which had been posted at the . Braddock road, midway between Fairfax Station and Fairfax CourtHouse, and a company of the Lincoln Cavalry, under Captain Stearns, to take Fairfax Court-House. I promptly returned to my command, found ` it eager for the work, and ordering at the Braddock road Major Hatfield and command of two companies of the First and Captain Stearns to join me I dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch, Fourth New Jersey Volunteers, with two companies of the Fourth New Jersey and Captain Stearns! company of cavalry, to make a detour to the left, to cut off the enemy in his retreat from Fairfax Court-House by the Centreville road. The enemy’s pickets were seen between us and the town, and it was supposed they were backed up by a large force in the neighborhood.

Waiting till the proper time to make the dispositions come out simultaneously at Fairfax Court-House, I took immediate command of the

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balance of my forces, and had the pleasure of seeing Lieutenant-Colonel Hatch just in position to cut off the retreat of the enemy while I was ready to press him in front. Skirmishers were thrown out to the front and on either flank in our advance, and just before entering the town, when the opportunity admitted, the main body was deployed into line of battie. Unfortunately for the real test of our troops we found, to our surprise, no enemy, the great body having left, as I learned from the inhabitants, some time in October, and only the scouts and pickets who had been seen in the morning having occupied it since. This fact, however, does not at all militate against the spirit and determination of my command, which was all that might be expected from the inheritors of the military fame of Jerseymen, and who only await a standing foe to show their real metal. I would be derelict did I not also report that-you joined me before entering the place, and with your usual spirit and good judgment led the troops into the town, which we entered at about 5 p. m.

By your direction I immediately wrote a dispatch to General Franklin, reporting our oceupation of Fairfax Court-House, and you then left me with instruetions to hold possession of the town with the Fourth New Jersey. “This I did till the next morning, March 10, when, the Federal troops pouring in, the advance under Colonel Averell, and receiving an order to march to the Braddock Corners to support the advance of the First Regiment by that road to Centreville, I left the town with my regiment, took position at the Corners, remained there all night, and next morning returned by your direction to the vicinity of Fairfax Court-House, where l selected the camping ground for the brigade. Here we remained till the afternoon of the 14th instant, when, receiving an order at 5 o’elock from general headquarters to return to this post, the whole brigade moved at 6, and reached our destination after midnight.

Ithink it proper to state that when at Fairfax Court-House, on the 13th instant, with Assistant Adjutant-General Purdy and Assistant Adjutant-General Wilson and other officers and a squadron of dragoons, I visited the battle ground at Manassas of 21st July last, and at the recent headquarters of the Confederate Army of the Potomac, a building said to belong to a Mr. Weir, I found a large number of official documents, among them the original order of General Beauregard, dated July 20, promulgating, “confidentially,” to the commanders of brigades his plan of battle for the next day. Accompanying this was the order of General Joseph E. Johnston, approving the plan, and directing it to be carried into execution. I also found the original reports of Lieutenant Alexander, Engineer Corps, general staff, giving a statement of

the prisoners and wounded and of the property found after the battle. ,

The leaving of these important documents, like the other property which Isaw seattered around, shows with what haste the rebels must have retreated before our forces; but what discovers the perfect panie which must have ensued is the fact, which I witnessed, of their having left four dead bodies laid out in their hospital dead-house ready for interment, but which they had forgotten or neglected to bury.

Very respectfully submitted.